Posts by Nikki Shaheed
Asking for Help: Five Tips to Make it Easier for Parents During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Dear parents, Asking for help can be a big challenge for parents, even though pregnancy and birth are natural times to need some extra support. Let’s take a look at some ways to make asking for help a little easier… 1) Ask yourself – What is getting in the way of me asking for help? Family…
Read MoreGuest Post: How Can a Doula Support You? | Amanda Reyna
How can a doula can support you (and a partner)? As you prepare for birth, you’re likely reading a book or a few, attending provider appointments, washing some small sized clothing, attending a childbirth preparation class (or two), and somewhere along the way someone mentions that a doula may be a helpful option for your…
Read More10 Ways for Birth Professionals to Use Heart Centered Pregnancy Deck
I’m so excited to share that the Heart Centered Pregnancy Deck is here! This interactive card deck offers 35 reflections related to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, including… Self-Acceptance Patience Exploring Beliefs Creating Ritual Forgiveness Building a Support Network Expanding the Possibilities for Ways to Get Through Birth Creating Ambiance for Birth Taking a Compassionate Look…
Read MoreHow to Interact with Fears in a Productive and Caring Way
In a birth culture filled with messages that plant seeds of doubt about birth in expecting parents’ minds, it’s easy to understand how fear has come to have an unfavorable reputation. As pregnant parents navigate a medical system with soaring usage of medical intervention, and sift through a barrage of horrific birth stories from friends,…
Read MoreHow to Listen to a Birth Story with Compassion
Parents often share birth stories with one another in parenting groups, on playgrounds, or on coffee dates. Without guidance or modeling on how to deeply listen to another person’s story of transformation, many people will fall back on ingrained patterns of attempting to placate the parent, telling them to “let it go,” sharing their own…
Read MoreFostering Connection and Resilience in a Cesarean Birth
While most people refer to this type of birth as a c-section, in Birthing from Within we prefer the term Cesarean Birth. By shifting our language, we acknowledge that no matter how a baby is born, that moment is still a profound rite of passage for the birthing parent that deserves to be honored as…
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